Eleanor Holmes NortonVerified account

Fantastic news from House Appropriations! DC’s Appropriation bill, passed in subcommittee this week, contains no anti-home-rule riders, no congressional appropriation of local funds, $40 million for DCTAG and an increase in the family income eligibility limit for DCTAG.

I am grateful to Subcommittee Chair @RepMikeQuigley and Committee Chair @NitaLowey for this historic bill that allows D.C., for the first time under the 1973 Home Rule Act, to spend its local funds without a congressional appropriation, a major step forward for a #FreeAndEqualDC

The bill allows the District, for the first time, to spend its local funds under the Local Budget Autonomy Act, which means that the local budget passed by the D.C. Council and signed by the mayor will take effect after a congressional review period #FreeAndEqualDC

Key wins for the District also include: The bill is free of all anti-home-rule riders. The bill REMOVES the two enacted FY 19 riders—prohibitions on the District’s use of its local funds on abortion and on recreational marijuana commercialization.

The bill contains $40 million for DCTAG, which I have gotten for the last four years, and increases the family income eligibility limit. More DC families will be eligible to receive tuition assistance.

Another key win – the bill exempts D.C. from federal government shutdowns in FY 21. I’ve gotten annual shutdown exemptions every year since the 2013 federal government shutdown. Just because Congress doesn’t function, doesn’t mean DC should suffer.